Open AccessColiphage Ghosts Obtained by Osmotic Shock or LiCl Treatment are Devoid of J- and H-Gene Products
Author(s) -
Grażyna Konopa,
Karol Taylor
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of general virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.55
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1465-2099
pISSN - 0022-1317
DOI - 10.1099/0022-1317-43-3-729
Subject(s) - biology , coliphage , gene product , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteriophage , dna , incubation , osmotic pressure , bacteria , gene expression , escherichia coli , biochemistry , genetics
We have proved by acrylamide gel electrophoresis that DNA-free ghosts of bacteriophage lambda obtained by osmotic shock (S-ghosts), or by incubation in 5 M-L-Cl (L-ghosts) do not possess the proteins specified by the genes J and H. Electron microscopy of L-ghosts showed that they are devoid of the whole tail tip, composed of the basal part and the tail fibre. The lack of the J-gene product, which is believed to be the tail fibre, explains why S- and L-ghosts do not adsorb to susceptible bacteria. Our results suggest that the H-gene product, which is modified after translation, is situated in the basal part of the tail.